If you are LGBTQ+ in Wales you CAN adopt.

The National Adoption Service and our seven regional adoption agencies and Voluntary Adoption Agencies welcome enquiries from everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Living with HIV, or prior experience of mental health issues won’t prevent you from adopting either – you just need to show that you have the health and energy to meet the child's needs through to adulthood.

UK research* shows:

The quality of parent-child relationships is just the same when children are adopted by lesbian or gay couples compared to heterosexual couples.

Children’s psychological development and well-being is just the same when children are adopted by lesbian or gay couples compared to heterosexual couples.

Lesbian and gay adopters are more likely than heterosexual adopters to have come to adoption as their first choice.

Lesbian and gay adopters felt well equipped to help children deal with difference and that children would have advantages growing up of being tolerant of difference in others.

Adopted children of lesbian and gay parents don’t experience greater problems at school and in peer relationships compared to children of heterosexual parents and bullying and teasing is rare.

*First4Adoption 2020.

What support is available for LGBTQ+ adopters?

Our adoption support services are open to all our adopters. If you need support at any stage of the adoption process, please contact your local adoption support team.

New Family Social is a UK charity for LGBTQ+ adopters and foster carers with information on LGBT+ adoption and fostering, members meet ups, events, support and family-finding services.

Stonewall is the UK-wide lesbian, gay and bisexual charity, and provides information and resources about all aspects of parenting including adoption.

We will be working with LGBTQ+ adopters to develop this area of our website to ensure we are providing our adopters with information that is most helpful to them.

Taking the next step

View the FAQs about adoption Frequently asked questions
Speak to an adoption advisor Find your nearest adoption agency

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